Soup Meetup on 3/19/2016

This week's soup meet up features lotus seed as the main soup ingredients. In short,  lotus seeds are commonly used in the formula to help calm our minds and aide in sleeping. These soups are most suitable for drinking before bed or during dinner time. 

Lian Zi (莲子，lotus seeds): In China, lotus plants are grown in the Hunan, Fujian, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces. The seeds are usually collected in August and September, and are dried in the sun. In traditional Chinese medicine, lotus seeds are considered sweet and neutral, and are associated with the Spleen, Kidney, and Heart meridians. They contain asparagin, fats, proteins, some starches, and trace elements of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. They are taken to tonify the spleen, reinforce the kidneys, and nourish the blood. Lotus seeds have astringent properties, and are consumed to help relieve the symptoms of diarrhea and improve appetite. Other conditions treated with lotus seeds include palpitations, insomnia, and irritability.

Savory: Lotus seeds, roasted bean and chicken soup

​A soup for those who are working 24/7, especially those who does a lot of mental processing. The soups feature lotus seeds that calms the body along with walnuts that nourishes the mind.

Sweet: Lotus seed, lily bulbs and snow fungus

Popular dessert soup among Asia. This dessert soup have many variations. This is a common Cantonese style, where the "yin er" or Snow fungus is cooked until its translucent. This sweet delight helps nourish the skin while smoothing the soul.

Ingredients:
500g Chicken Legs (or Chicken Breast)
100g Broad Bean – Roasted
40g Lotus Seeds
20g Walnuts
8g Hawthorne Berries
8 cups of water
Optional: add salt and/or rice wine to taste 

Instructions:
Preparation:

1. Blanch Chicken legs (breast).
2. Soak the dry ingredients overnight.

Cooking Instructions

1. Bring 8 cups of water to boil then add in all the ingredients and chicken.
2. Boil the ingredients for 10 minutes then simmer for 45 minutes.
3. Add salt and/or rice wine to taste

 

​Ingredients: (handful of each ingredients)
Bai He (lily bulb)
Lian Zi (lotus seeds)
1 x Silver Ear (Yin Er) - Snow Fungus
Guo Qi Zi - Gogi Berries
4 cups of water

Instructions:
Preparation:

1. Soak the bai he, lian zi, and silver ears over night with plenty of water in a big bowl.
2. Cut the yellow parts of the silver ear and separate them into smaller pieces

Cooking Instructions:

1. Put all in a pot, put about 4 cups of water
2. Bring to boil then simmer for 30 minutes. Cook longer if prefer softer lotus seeds.
3. Add crystal sugar and/or guo qi zi and cook for further 10 minutes

Prepackaged Ingredients are available at both Dr. Kwan's Integrative Chinese Medicine Clinic and SANDI Clinic. Leave us a message if you have any questions.